6 Habits Of Highly Effective Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs need to have the right set of skills if they’re going to be successful. The fact is that so many people are not focusing on the underlying characteristics they have. They’re focusing on just the hard skills at their disposal. You’ll find that the regardless of the skills successful people have they all come with the same habits and characteristics.

So what are the habits that drive highly effective entrepreneurs forward?

Stop Spending Your Energy On Low-Impact Decisions

Maximize your energy and efficiency through spending your time on making the decisions that really matter. Expending your energy on deciding what to wear that day is a poor use of your mental facilities. One of the best success tips for young and aspiring entrepreneurs is to think about what really makes a difference to your business. What’s going to take your company to the next level?

Think about why Steve Jobs wore exactly the same thing to work every day. He didn’t care to waste a single ounce of mental energy on what he was wearing. It became mechanical and so all his mental power went on the decisions that would change the world.

Never Take No for an Answer

Sometimes you do have to ignore the status quo and have confidence in yourself. Don’t allow others to tell you what’s possible and what isn’t. Gather together some momentum and keep pushing forward. It’s true that 90% of startups fail, though, so when do you have to accept no?

You only accept no when it no longer makes sense to go on. When the numbers are against you and the facts are staring you in the face it’s time to move on. What people say doesn’t matter, but when your own facts and figures are telling you to stop it’s time to stop.

Go One Step Further Than Your Competitors

The startup world’s new rich and successful businesses got that way because they went further than their competitors. They took things one step further than everyone else, and eventually that would pay off in a major way. Tenacity, perseverance, and ambition should all come together to encourage you to take things one step further than everyone else.

Make Sure Your Customers Always Come First

Your customers should always come before anything else. Entrepreneurs are not there to give their idea to the world. They’re there to notice a problem and fulfill that problem. You’re here to create a better world. The job title of every entrepreneur is ‘Problem Solver’.

With that in mind, consider what your business is there for. Think about the problem you’re trying to solve and make that the heart of what you do. That’s how you put your customers first.

Shift Gears When the Need Arises

You’ll hear entrepreneurs talking about perseverance all the time. The problem with this is so many entrepreneurs persevere too long. They will continue to drive their company into the ground even when the writing is on the wall. That’s how they lose everything.

You should shift gears when the need arises, and do it with some enthusiasm. Every business leader is passionate about what they do and their ideas, but they’re not married to them. They know when to pivot and they’re not afraid to do it.

Ask entrepreneurs what their biggest challenge is and they’re always going to say visibility. Standing out in an increasingly crowded market is a nightmare. Making sure you’re visible is a real challenge. You need to be visible both as a business and as an individual. Think about Sir Richard Branson as an example.

He has made his name as someone who’s constantly visible. Even if you don’t know his businesses you know him as a personality, and that’s part of the reason why he finds it so easy to get the visibility he needs.

It takes time to develop good habits. Developing consistency can take a lot of time and effort. Make a conscious effort to bring these habits into your life every day and you’ll soon see your business prospects rising.

What do you think the most important habit is on this list?

About the Author

I am a regular writer for Forbes, Inc., Huffington Post, Entrepreneur Media (among others), as well as CEO and Chairman of Alumnify Inc. Proud alum from 500 Startups and The University of San Diego. Follow me on Twitter @ajalumnify

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